Saturday, April 24, 2010

Album Covers: "sophisticated, enlightened artwork"

Robert M. Jones, Art Director, RCA/Victor Records, writing in the November 1960 issue of American Artist, concluded:

Though color photography presently dominates album cover art...


... there is evidence that the taste of the record buyer is maturing.


He is demanding a sophisticated, enlightened art work.



Musical content is also becoming increasingly important.



Fortunately, a semi-nude pretty girl is no longer enough to sell the product...



... to an audience whose taste in music is constantly being upgraded by quality recordings.



* My Illustrated Album Covers flickr set.

6 comments:

Kathryn Hudson said...

Really Enjoyed it!

Leif Peng said...

Thanks Kathryn! :^)

Joe Jusko said...

This entire series has been pure visual music! Even as a kid I would keep the albums from my parent's collection that had art on the covers. When I later started to buy my own I found an old record store in the East Village of NYC and bought dozens of old album expressly for the art. The first I ever remember buying were the McGinnis/McCarthy illustrated JAMES BOND soundtracks. Even at age 10 I apparently had good taste as a kid! LOL

Anonymous said...

I have Dance To A Swing Organ!
Groovin jazz organ tracks
I bought it because of the cover.

Will Finn said...

That "Organ Works" one on top looks like the influence of Milton Glaser.

Great series!

mick statham said...

love the bach sleave.